Cleaning device



sept.- 15, 1936.

C.`E. LANG ET AL.

CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS af/ L 077g t 0205 RNE s.

By (War/e5 I MAMA-M Patented Slept. 15, 1936 PATENT GFICE CLEAMNG DEVICE Carl E. Langand Charles Lee Boggs,

San Francisco, Calif.

Appncatiun April 13, 1933, serial No. scenes 12 Clair/ns.

The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning devices, and has particular reference to a device for cleaning Watches and parts A thereof.-

In cleaning Watches it hasrbeen the conventional practice to effect the cleaning by rapidly revolving the watch mechanism in a cleaning fluid, but this method is not very satisfactory l since the revolution of the mechanism in a liquid T at high speed causes the liquid to be thrown away from 'ne mechanism by centrifugal force so that a pocket is formed about the mechanism which leaves `at least a portion thereof` exposed to air or gases formed in the cleaning fluid. As a rule liquid ammonia has been used as the cleaning fluid, and the gases created in the pocket about thel revolving Watch mechanism have the eiect of tarnishing or oxidizing the metal soy that the result in many cases is entirely unsatisfactory.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty, and it is proposed to arrange the mechanism in such a rn'anner' that the watch or whatever object is to be cleaned does not revolve in the center ofv a r'otating iiu'id body, but is made to revolve on center relative to the body. This causesV the rotating liquid to continuously vreturn to the pocket or vortex set up by the rotating mechanism and to keep the same filled so' that the object to be' cleaned is at all times in Contact with the liquid instead of being subjected to the action of gases. When the fluid is rotated as stated, a vortex is formed in its center. It has been found that by disposing the axis of the object to be cleaned lat; erally of the Wall of the vortex in thero'tating fluid so as to be substantially clear of said vorteii there will be a practically complete submergence of the object, thereby achieving the purpose of the invention. w v 40 A further advantage of `this eccentric mounting of the object to be cleaned relative to the' liquid body is that the object is really subjected to' a double' Washing action, one being `caused by the revolving movement of the object itself in 4 the` liquid, and the other by the fact that the ob`- ject instead of being mounted in the center of the liquid body is mounted in a rim section there# o'f so as to be subjected to the washing action of the revolving body of liquid. We have `found 50 that the placing of the rotating object slightly to' one side of the center line and still having the ri'ni of the object extend beyond the center line', that the body of uid will be rotated by the roe' tating object, `and will forni a vortex coinciding with the center line. This will' cause the fluid to Wash through the object and prevent the forma-V tion of a vortex along the axis of the rotating object.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide for further improvements in connection with a cleaning device of the character described which will allow the entire operation to be carried out with more simplicity and greater economy.

It is proposed to provide convenient mounting rnear'isl for the fluid receptacle in connection with means for mounting a motor and the cleaning apparatus relative to the fluid receptacle so that the same may be' handled as a unit.

It is further proposed to provide certain improvements in holding means for the Watch mechanism, whether the same be manipulated in a single piece, or taken apart in its constitu# ent parts.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the specication proceeds.

The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l shows a side elevation of the entire apparatus;

Figure 2 a top plan View thereof;

Figure 3 a detail view in section of a holding rneans for a watch mechanism;

Figure 4 a bottom plan View of the holding means with a watch mechanism shown in place;

Figure 5 a bottom' plan view of the holding device per se;

Figure 6 a side elevation of the holding de-r vice with a perforated cage attached thereto;

Figure 7 a top plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 a bottom plan view of the same' assembly; and

Figure 9 a detail View in perspective o'f a grip-V ping jaw used in our invention.

While we have shown only the preferred form of the invention we wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may" be made within the scope of the claims hereto at-r tached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a base I having means associated therewith for holding three different containers 2 thereon, the rst container being provided with av cleansing fluid, su'ch as liquid ammonia, and the tWo' other containers being provided with rinsing fluids for a first and second rinsing of the objects to be cleaned. The containers 2 are preferably round in cross section, and each conmembers e, which are curved to encircle'the upper end of the container so as to allow a cover to be placed on the upper rim of the container from above. The cover 5 is provided with two projecting tongues 6, which when the cover is lowered upon the container should be disposed between the two pairs of springs so as to clear the members 4, and which may be pushed underneath the members 4 by a turning movement for clamping the cover upon the container. 'Ihe spring members 4 are curved downwardly in their central section so as to tighten the cover on the turning movement, and the tongues 6 are made curved so asto facilitate the engagement at the beginning of the turning movement.

The cover 5 has the motor 'l permanently secured thereto and the motor shaft extends through the cover, the motor being mounted eccentrircally relative to the cover so that the motor shaft extends into the container 2 eccentrically.

' The motor preferably has a second cover 8 secured to the other end thereof, the second cover 8 being substantially the same as the cover 5, and

Y being coaxial therewith so as to be also eccentric relative to the motor. The cover has lugs 6' Y andra gasket 8 for forming a liquid-tight seal (not shown) between the cover and the container 2. The cover 5 may likewise be provided with a gasket The other two containers 2 are provided with removable covers 2.

The three containers 2 are substantially alike and theV Vcovers 5 and 8 with the motor 'I may be secured thereto inthe same manner.

The motor shaft has the holder for the watch mechanism secured thereto, the holder being illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The holderV comprises in its principal features supporting m-eans in the form of a disc 9 through the center of which extends a reduced portion I of a shaft II, which has a pinion I2 secured thereto, the pinion being accommodated in a recess in the disc. The latter has two jaws I3 of which one is shown in detail in Figure 9, disposed thereon in coacting relation, each of the jaws having a rack I4 extending therefrom and the two racks being slidably mounted in grooves I5V of the disc so as to be in engagement with the pinion I2. It will be readily seen that revolving movement of the pinionY I2 in one direction or the other will cause the jaws to move. Y

Y Revolving movement of the pinion I2 is'brought about by means of a sleeve I6 which is threaded upon the shaft I I as at I'I, and the movement of which relative to the shaft is limited by means of a flxed collar I8. 'I'he sleeve in actuating the pinion is first rotated on the shaft II until it abuts the nut IB. Further rotation of the sleeve YI6 in the same direction will now rotate the shaft are v-shaped as will be seen from Figure 9, and the rack I4 of each jaw is offset and extends from an end portion of the jaw so that the two racks mayA operate on opposite sides of Vthe center of the disc, while the two jaws are centrally opposite to one another. The shaft II has a bore in its top for receiving the motor shaft 20, and the wall of the bore is split longitudinally and its outer surface is provided with a tapered thread. The shaft II may be clamped upon theV motor shaft indicated at 2D by means of a nut 2I threaded upon the tapered and split end of the shaft Il which as just stated is cored to receive the shaft 2D. sides I 3 which extend at an angle with respect to each other for gripping and centering the watch mechanism. The sides are spaced from each other at their inner ends for providing a recess I4 for receiving the stem of the watch mechanism. When the watch stem isreceived in either of the recesses I 4 the fourth pinion (not shown) of the watch mechanism, which carries the second hand, will be disposed midway between the two jaws I3 and will be protected against breakage. It will also be observed that the shape of the jaws will center any type of watch mechanism, whether round, oval, square or rectangular. The watch will rest on the faces of the gripping jaws and the slanting sides I3 Will urge the watch down on the faces while the fact that the same sides I3 on each jaw are inclined with respect to each other, will cause the watch to be centered between the jaws.

'Ihe jaws I3 are adapted to grip the watch mechanism as a whole but sometimes it is to be preferred to separate the mechanism into its constituent parts, and in that case we preferably use a cage such as illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 8 for accommodating the parts. The cage 22 is a cylindrical housing formed with a large number of small perforations, and preferably formed with a partition 23, also of perforated material which extends from a diametric line 24 at the top 23" of the housing, and at an angle to the bottom 24 of the casing so as to form one small compartment 25 for accommodating the small parts of the mechanism, and a larger compartment 26 accommodating the larger parts of the mechanism. It will be noted that the entrances to each compartment are of equal size. The cover 2'I of the cage is hinged thereto as at 28, and may be hel-d in place by a retracting spring 29 adapted to ent-er a slit 30 in the cage housing. The opposite or bottom end of the cage housing has a cylindrical extension 3I formed with a number of slots indicated at 32, and this end is used for securing the cage to the disc 9. It will be noted, particularly from Figure 5, that when the two jaws I3 are in their most inward position, the operating racks I4 of the jaws extend slightly beyond the periphery of the disc. VWhen the jaws are separated, the operating racks move inwardly and the extremities of these operating racks are used for fastening the cage to the disc. The cylindrical exten- 'sion 3l of the cage fits over the disc when the operating racks I4 are retracted, and after the disc has been placed relative to the cage the extremities of the operating racks I4 are allowed to project thru the slots 32 for holding the cage to the disc. The cage 22 is shown inverted in Figure 6 and this is the position it assumes when rotating in the fluid. When adding or removing articles from the cage, the cage is reversed from theA position shown before the cover 21 is removed. The terms top 23 and bottom 24' are given to the cage when in a position to have articles added or removed therefrom, which is opposite from the position shown in Figure 6.

The jaws I3 each have inclined Y The operation of the' invention willY be readily understood from the foregoing description.

If it is desiredV to clean the mechanism as a u-nit it is' clamped between the jaws I3'. io' this purpose theuoperator firstY turns the VsleeveMII away from the disc 9 until it Strikes the collar I8 whereupon turning movement is continued and the shaft II is made to turn {with} the sleeve whereby the pinion I2 *isY turned and the ljaws I3 are made'l to Separate, the operator holding the disc against rotation.v During this outward movement of the' jaws thev spring I9 is placed under tension and D when the jaws have been' separated sufficiently fary to accommodate the watch mechanism the latter is placed between the jaws and the operator releases the sleeve I6, which causes the spring I9 to urge the' jaws upon the watch mechanism. After the latter has been clamped in place the jaws may be' positively locked by a return movement of the sleeve I6 upon the disc whereby the pinion I2 is tightened upon the disc, and whereby the' jaws are positively locked againstv rotation in either direction irrespective of the (spring I9.

After the watch mechanism has been positioned in this manner and the' shaft II has been secured to the motor 'shaft 20 by means of the nut 2I, the cover 5 is engaged with the first container 2 in the manner previously described so that the watch mechanism is mounted within the container eccentically thereof, and is submerged in the cleaning liquid. The mechanism is' now' rotated at high cleaning speed, and a thorough cleaning of the mechanism is effected, the latter being subjected to the double washing' action previousiy described, and the creation of an air or gas pocket being prevented by the" revolving liquid washing back into the pocket on account of the eccentrio mounting'. 'Ihe initial rotation of the shaft 2U will cause a vortex to be formed about the watch mechanism. This is immediately lled by fluid because the rotating watch mechanism will cause the body of fluid in the container to rotate about the axis of the container. The vortex will therefore move from the axis -of the shaft to the axis of the container. The rotating watch will therefore have its parts bathed in the uid for each rotation of the shaft. Experiments have shown that a round container 4 in diameter and 7 high filled with fluid to within 2 from the top will form a vortex in the fluid when the object is rotated at a cleaning speed of from 250 R. P. M. and upward. A rotating object placed in this rotating body of fluid with its axis near the wall of the vortex will be thoroughly cleaned, as already set out.

After a sufficient period for cleaning the mechanism has elapsed the entire device, preferably with the motor still running, is lifted out of the first vessel and reintroduced in the second vessel for rinsing operation, and thereafter the entire mechanism is transferred to the third container 2 for a second rinsing operation. The mechanism is then removed from the third container and is now reversed whereupon the second cover 8 is secured to one of the containers in the same manner as the cover 5 was previously secured. Now the shaft with its holder and its watch mechanism projects into the air and the rotation is continued for drying the mechanism.

If it is desired to clean the watch mechanism in parts, the individual parts thereof may be placed into the cage 22 and the latter fastened to the disc 9 by means of the operating racks I4 in the manner previously described, and the cleaning operation may be proceeded with in the same manner. The cage in rotating will cause the slanting partition 23 to act on the fluid for drawing it in through the ends of the cage and for expelling it out through the peripheral w'all of the cage. i i

The disc 9 is provided with slots 9* which aid in circulating the fluid through the clock mechanism. l vWhen a watch is clamped between the jaws I3, as shown in Fig. 4, the slots 9f extend beyond the inner edges ofthe jaws. The slots' therefore permit fluid to flow from the back of the disc S into the space within the clamping' jaws I3 for promoting circulation of the fluid through the watch mechanism when the disc is` rotated in the fluid medium.

We claim: Y] 1. In a device of the character described, a base having two pairs of spring elements rising therefrom, a container adapted to be clamped between the spring elements, a cover for the container having tongues projecting therefrom, and spring members connecting the elements of each pair and being shaped to allow the cover to be placed on the container from above with the tongues projecting into the spa/ce between the spring members, the latter having downward curves adapted for engagement with the tongues when the cover is turned for clamping the over upon the container.

2. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a rotatably mounted disc, means on said disc for clamping an obect to the surface thereof, and means for rotating the disc in a fluid medium for cleaning the object, the disc having slots extending from the center toward the rim to form a communication between the back of the disc and the space within the clamping means for promoting ooulatiori when the object is rotated in the fluid medium.

3. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a body having coacting jaws movable thereon for gripping an object, spring means urging the Vjaws upon the object and geared means for separating the jaws with means for locking the jaws in adjusted position.

4. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a disc having coacting jaws movable thereon for gripping an object, racks connected with the jaws, a pinion engaging the racks for operating the jaws when the pinion is rotated, a shaft projecting from the pinion and extending through the disc, a sleeve threaded on the shaft and having a part axially spaced therefrom so as to form a chamber therewith, means for limiting the threaded movement of the sleeve away from the disc for causing the shaft to turn with the sleeve when rotary movement of the latter is continued whereby the turning of the shaft will turn the pinion and move the racks for separating the jaws, and a spring within the chamber opposing outward movement of the jaws and tending to urge the jaws upon an object inserted therebetween, the sleeve being adapted to urge the pinion upon the disc when the sleeve is threaded against the disc, the sleeve when contacting the disc and rotated further, moving the shaft for forcing the pinion against the disc for locking the pinion and jaws in adjusted position.

5. A container for a quantity of cleaning uid, a cage for an object to be cleaned, said cage being of a diametral size a little more than onehalf that of the container, means to suspend the cage eccentrically in and below the fluid in the Uli lio'

Y container soV that the periphery of the cage extends past the vertical axis of the container, and means to rotate the first means and cage Vat a cleaning speed, the size of the cage and its eccentric position keeping the vortex forming in said fluid substantially coincident with the axis of the container,

V6. A container for a quantity of cleaning iiuid, supporting means to carry an object which is to be cleaned, said supporting means being of a diametral size a little more than one-half the diameter of the container, suspending means to suspend the supporting means eccentrically in and below the iluid in the container so that the periphery of the supporting means extends past the vertical axis of the container, and means to rotate the suspending and supporting means at a cleaning speed, the size of the supporting means and its eccentric position keeping the vortex forming in said uid substantially coincident with the axis of the container.

7. The herein described method of cleaning objects which consists in rotating them about an axis and in a rotating body of cleaning fluid, the axis extending into the fluid and being disposed laterally of the vortex formed by the rotating uid, whereby the objects will be conned to the iluid and substantially clear ofthe foregoing Vortex. Y

8. In a cleaning device of the character de- Y scribed, a holder having two gripping members for gripping an object, each gripping member having a face for the object to rest an and having a pair of slanting side members for urging the object upon the faces of the gripping members and the side members of each pair being arranged at an angle to one another so as to cause the two pairs to coact in centering the object.

9. In a cleaning-device of'the character described, a vertically disposed perforated cylindri-V cal container for containing objects to be cleaned and having top and bottom end sections respectively, a perforated partition set at a slanting angle from the diametrical center line of the top end section toward the side and bottom end section, and means for rotating the container in a cleaning fluid, the slanting partition causing the fluid to be drawn in at the end sections and to be discharged at the peripheral side thereby creating circulation throughout the container. Y

10. In a cleaning device of the character described, a perforated container having a vertically disposed perforated partition slantingly disposed therein from the top to the bottom ends to form two compartments and means for rotating the container in a cleaning fluid, the partition serving to cause the cleaning iiuid to be drawn into the respective compartments from opposite ends and to be expelled laterally.

1l. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a body having coacting jaws movable thereon for gripping an object, each jaw having inclined sides extending at an angle with respect to each other, and having their inner ends Yspaced from eachother for providing a stem receiving recess, andfmeans for causing the jaws to grip a watch mechanism.

12. In a device of the type described, a rotatable cage for receiving watch parts, the cage having a' cylindrical wall with a closed bottom and an open top, a partition mounted in the cage and extending from the diametrical center of the open top toward the cage bottom, said partition being inclined with respect to the cage bottom vfor providing a large and a small compartment each having the same size entrance opening, and a cover for the open top of the cage.

CARL E. LANG. Y CHARLES LEE BoGGs. 

